NJ Field Hockey: Ocean County season review, 2010

John O'Boyle/The Star-LedgerMaddie DeCerbo of Southern Regional is The Star-Ledger's Ocean County Player of the Year for 2010.

Player of the year: As a youngster, Maddie DeCerbo of Southern Regional envisioned herself on a varsity playing field, but she always felt it would be a soccer field. But a chance to play field hockey in the fifth grade resulted in an epiphany of sorts.

"I remember it well," DeCerbo said. "My older sister, Lauren, was playing field hockey and she was a goalie. I took a shot on her and scored. After that, I was sold."

DeCerbo, a 5-5 senior who will play at the University of Virginia next fall, had a tremendous season as Southern won its first 17 games en route to a 17-2 campaign. DeCerbo had 24 goals and 10 assists on the season.

"No question, she was the best player in Ocean County," Southern coach Kathy Schneider said. "She was an outstanding player for us and one of the most skilled players I’ve seen this year."

Schneider’s sentiments were shared by Shore Regional coach Nancy Williams, who, in 42 years as a head coach, has seen her share of outstanding players in the Shore Conference.

"Maddie was tremendous for Southern," Williams said. "If you ask me who was the best player in Ocean, it’s her, hands down."

DeCerbo’s career stats included 51 goals and 41 assists as an offensive and defensive corner player. She especially enjoyed this season, she said, as her teammates came together.

"We felt during scrimmages that the team was beginning to jell," DeCerbo said. "We were really confident as a team. A few of my teammates will be playing in college, too. Brooke (Angellella) is going to Appalachian State, Nicole (Trupia) is playing at Montclair State and Morgan (Snyder) is attending Rowan. It says a lot about our program."

DeCerbo made her college decision last December and has watched Virginia play on a few occasions.

"The college game has so much speed," DeCerbo said. "Everyone on the field has agility. The passing is incredible I’m sure I’ll have a different type of preparation for next year."

DeCerbo is undecided on a major in college, but could see herself in the field of mathematics, finance or economics one day and maybe working in New York City. She would also like to coach and run field hockey clinics in the future.

Coach of the year: Kathy Snyder led Southern to a 17-2 mark and has a career mark of 271-144-53 in 25 years at the school.

"I was really proud of the way we played this year," Schneider said. "We battled in every game. Our defense was outstanding."

Team of the year: New Egypt had a solid campaign with a 16-3 mark. New Egypt, under first-year coach Katie Nicholson, who replaced her mother, Patti, was led by Cortney Natalicchio, a junior attack, who had 26 goals and 10 assists this season.

Miller retires: After a 42-year tenure, Becky Miller announced her retirement as coach at Toms River North. Miller, the only coach in Toms River North history, was 506-166-75 in a career that began in 1969.

"She had a tremendous run," said Shore Regional coach Nancy Williams, who began her coaching career a year after Miller. "She’s a very nice person who influenced a lot of lives in a positive direction. She should be proud of what she accomplished."

Williams is now the longest-tenured coach in the Shore Conference with 41 years while Wall’s Nancy Goss just completed her 40th season.